Danny D. Sternhagen, 45 of Avon

Funeral Services will be 10:30 am Tuesday, March 24, 2009 at the First Presbyterian Church in Avon, with burial in the Trinity Presbyterian Cemetery, rural Avon. Visitation will be at the church on Monday from 12 noon to 9 PM, with the family present from 6 to 9 PM.

Danny Don Sternhagen, son of Don and Rosalee (Hornstra) Sternhagen, was born May 23, 1963 at Yankton, SD. He died Friday, March 20, 2009 at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton. Dan attained the age of 45 years, nine months and 26 days.

Dan lived his entire life in Avon. He graduated from Avon High School in 1981 and then attended USD/Springfield and the Austin Vocational School in Austin, MN. Dan worked as a dispatcher in the Bon Homme County Sheriff's Office for many years.

Dan was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Avon.

Dan had excellent computer skills and enjoyed working with web sites and making the Avon Athletic Sports programs. His favorite activity was watching the Avon Pirates and Lady Pirate sporting events. This was closely followed by watching the Yankton Bucks sporting activities of his nephews, Nick Perry and Tyler and Ryan Sternhagen.

Dan always was cheerful despite his handicap of Muscular Dystrophy since he was three years old.

Dan's memory will be cherished by his mother, Rosalee Sternhagen; his father and mother, Don and Jan Sternhagen, all of Avon; his brother, Steve and wife, Mary of Yankton; his nephews: Nicholas Perry, Tyler and Ryan Sternhagen; his step sister, Julie Greenfield of Yankton; his niece, Jana Sue Greenfield; and many relatives and dear friends.

Dan was preceded in death by his sister, Sue Jayne on February 6, 1990; and his grandparents: Neil and Lillian Hornstra and Joe and Christine Sternhagen.